Prevalence and pattern of sleep disorder among children with neurological diseases in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Sleep disorders significantly affect the quality of live and may impair cognitive development. Sleep disorders are reported to be common in children with neurological diseases. However no report has evaluated the prevalence of sleep disorders among children chronic neurological diseases in Nigeria. This study therefore sort to determine the prevalence and types of sleep disorders among children with neurological diseases seen Child neurology clinic of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. Subjects and methods: This was a questionnaire based cross sectional study. Parents/caregivers of children attending the Child Neurology Clinic of UBTH were recruited and a structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate the presence of sleep disorders in the children they have brought to the clinic. Response scale ranged from never, rarely, occasional, frequent and very frequent. Children were judged to have sleep disorder if the symptom were present frequently or very frequently. Variables were aggregated as simple proportions and differences determine using chi-square test. Results: One hundred and fifty children aged 17years and below consisting of 98 (65.3%) males and 52 (34.7%) were evaluated. The most common sleep disorders found include restlessness during sleep 68.7%, frequent awakening 66.0%, snoring 57.3%, excessive day time sleepiness 53.3% and sleep walking among others. Sleep disorders were more common in boys than in girls and those aged 5 years and below than older children. Conclusion: Sleep disorders are very common among children with neurological diseases. These problems have great potential of further impairing cognitive development and quality of life in these children. Key words: sleep disorder, children, neurological diseases, Benin City

Relationship between vitamin A status and anaemia among school age children in Benin

Background: Anaemia and vitamin A deficiency are two major public health problems affecting many developing countries world-wide. Vitamin A deficiency, in addition to other health problems, can contribute to anaemia. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between vitamin A status and anaemia among school agechildren in Benin City.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out between June2005 and February 2006 on one hundred and fifty-two children within the age range of 6 and 12 years, randomly selected from primary schools in a Local Government   Area of Edo State. Plasma vitamin A was assessedby Bessey’s Spectrophotometric method, while the  Haemoglobin concentration was assessed using the photometric principle ofanalysis.Results: The mean plasma vitamin A level was 27.7± 12.4ìg/dl., with a range of 10 - 64ìg/dl. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol <20ìg/dl) was 29.6%. There was no subject with severe vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol <10ìg/dl. The mean haemoglobin concentrationwas 10.5 ± 1.1g/dl., with a range of 7.3 – 13.4g/dl. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin concentration <11g/dl) was 58.6%. There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin A deficiency and anaemia, although the haemoglobin levels tended to increase with increased vitamin A status.Conclusion: This study shows high prevalence rates of vitamin A deficiencyand anaemia in this part of Nigeria. There was a trend of increasinghaemoglobin levels with higher vitamin A status which however, was not statistically correlated.Key Words: vitamin A deficiency, Anaemia, school age children

Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with chronic neurological disorders in Benin city, Nigeria

Background: It is envisaged that the care for the child with chronic neurological disorder (CND) compared with his apparently healthy counter-part may be sub-optimal, predisposing him to increase disease morbidities including intestinal helminthiasis. To evaluate this hypothesis, a comparative cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence, intensity, and specie-specific prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with CND such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and mental retardation seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City between November 2008 and April 2009.  Subjects and Methods: Fresh stool samples from 155 children with CND and from 155 age   and sex matched apparently healthy nursery and primary school children in Benin City, Edo State were analysed using the Kato-Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths. Results: The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children with CND was 31.0% compared with 19.4% found among the apparently healthy controls (p = 0.03). This prevalence increased with increasing age in both subjects and comparative group. Intensity of infections in both groups was light. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Ancylostoma duedenale were the intestinal helminths isolated in both subjects and control groups. A. lumbricoides alone had the highest specie-specific prevalence in both the subjects (20.0%) and comparative groups (15.5%). Mixed infection was found only among the children with CND. Conclusion: Intestinal helminthiasis is common and more prevalent in children with CND than in healthy children. It is recommended that regular de-worming be incorporated into the routine care of children with CND.Key words: chronic neurological disorders, helminthiasis, intestinal helminths, intensit

Daytime Sleepiness among Medical Students in University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Background: Day time sleepiness remains an unexplored area of research in Nigeria despite its far reaching implication on cognitive function and productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of day time sleepiness among medical students in a Nigerian University.Methods: A questionnaire based cross sectional descriptive study involving medical students of a Nigerian University. All levels of the medical school participated except for 300 and 600 level students who were not in session.Subjects and methods: A total of 272 subjects (m=164(60.4%) and  (f=105(38.7%) with a mean of 21.4±2.9 years were recruited by convenience. In addition to socio demographics characteristics, subjects were required to give a self report of daytime sleepiness.Results: A majority 198 (72.8%) of the subjects; M=118(59.6%) and F=80 (40.4%) suffered from day time sleepiness. 69/198 (34.8%) experienced daytime sleepiness everyday of the week. Day time sleepiness was more common among 100 and 400 level students. 95/198 (40.0%) of the subjects did not experience a refreshing night time sleep.Conclusion: The high prevalence of day time sleepiness found in this study presents a public health concern since the presence of daytime sleepiness could be associated with underlying medical/ psychological disorders. There is a need for future studies to address these correlates of day time sleepiness. It is recommended that strategies to enlighten students on sleep hygiene should be pursued.Keywords: Day time sleepiness, medical students, Nigeria

Pattern Of Neurological Disorders In Child Neurology Clinic Of The University Of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

The management and rehabilitation of children with neurological disorders is not only expensive but challenging due to lack of adequate facilities and personnel in various relevant disciplines. Allocation of resources for the management of these disorders especially in resource poor countries demands an audit of the pattern of the disorders from time to time. The records of children attending the Child Neurology Clinic (CNC) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) were evaluated to determine the pattern of neurologic disorders. Seven hundred and ninety - nine children (mean age ± SD of 54.7 ± 49.9 months) were seen between 1998 and 2006. Males accounted for 56.7% while 43.3% were females. Most of the Children 69.1% were aged 5years and below while 19.1% and 11.8% were aged between 5 and 10 years and above 10 years respectively. Cerebral palsy accounted for majority (33.4%) of the cases seen followed by epilepsy 30.3%, post infectious neurologic disorder 5.5% and speech disorder 5.3% respectively. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder accounted for 2.1%. Other disorders seen include acute flaccid paralysis, autism, developmental delay, headache, mental retardation, HIV encephalopathy, cranial neuropathy, Erb Duchene paralysis, deafness, cerebella ataxia, conversion disorder, polyneuritis, syncope, Tic disorder and tuberous sclerosis. Concerted effort at the training of speech, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists to meet some of the challenges in rehabilitation and management of these children and their families is suggested. Keywords: Pattern, Neurologic Disorders, children, Benin CityAnnals of Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 18-2

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Family Pseudomonadaceae) is an obligate aerobic, motile, gram negative bacillus.which is able to grow and survive in almost any environment and resistant to temperature extremes. It is involved in the etiology of several diseases i

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Family Pseudomonadaceae) is an obligate aerobic, motile, gram negative bacillus.which is able to grow and survive in almost any environment and resistant to temperature extremes. It is involved in the etiology of several diseases including ocular, burn and wound infections. The study seeks to determine the involvement of Pseudumonas aeruginosa in the etiology of wound infections in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city. The study which was prospective and cross-sectional involved 2172 individuals who were patients seen at the various facilities in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Males numbered 1570 (72.29%), females were 530 (24.40%) while children were 72 (3.31%). 2172 specimens consisting of swabs from wound, pus and secretions were submitted for bacteriological analysis during the period January 2009 to September 2009. There was no particular selection order except that they were consecutively obtained. Specimens were collected for culture and sensitivity before initiating antibiotic therapy. Cultures were put up immediately using standard microbiological methods. Any growth was identified by colonial morphology and characteristics and biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial sensitivity test was performed according to Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per NCCLS recommendation. The control organism was a sensitive strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCTC10662). 2067 (95.2%) out of 2172 specimens yielded growth of various organisms out of which 249 (11.5%) yielded growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 105 (4.8%) yielded no growth. The organism was strongly susceptible to ceftazidime and ofloxacin was 53.4% sensitive to gentamycin. However it was poorly susceptible to cefuroxime, cloxacillin, lincomycin, cefotaxime, ceftriazone and amoxicillin clavulanate. The study clearly showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an important human pathogen and advanced suggestions as control measures.Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Wound infections; antibiotic susceptibilit

Antibiogram Profile of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Superficial Wound, High Vaginal and Antral Washout Specimens in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is recognized as an important gram negative opportunities pathogen. It has the ability to adhere to host structures using its polysaccharide capsule, thus facilitating infection. This prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to establish the prevalence of K. pneumoniae from superficial wounds, high vaginal and antral washout specimens. A total of 2,000 specimens were submitted for routine bacteriological analysis between January and September 2009. Specimens were cultured unto chocolate, blood, and McConkey agar plates and incubated aerobically and anaerobically for 24 hrs. Isolates were identified by standard methods and susceptibility tests were done on nutrient agar according to the method of Bauer and Kirby. One thousand five hundred and eighty nine isolates of various bacteria were obtained from the 2,000 specimens, representing 79.5% recovery rate. K. pneumoniae strains accounted for 146 (9.2%) of all microbial isolates. Others were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus morganii, Proteus rettgerri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes fecalis, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Candida albicans. The K. pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to ofloxacin, ceftazidime and gentamycin, moderately sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanate, clarithromycin, cefuroxime and ceftriazone but strongly resistant to lincomycin and cloxacillin. The increasing resistance of K. pneumoniae to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is a big challenge to health care industry. Measures to reduce the misuse of available antimicrobials were suggested.Keywords: Superficial wound infection, Antibiotic resistance, Klebsiella pneumoniae

Bacterial Isolates from Blood Samples of Patients in University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

The presence of bacteria in the blood stream results in a condition known as bacteremia. This condition is associated with pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO). The study seeks to determine the bacterial etiology of bloodstream infections and their susceptibility profile in a tertiary healthcare institution. The design was prospective and crosssectional. Specimens were obtained from patients in no particular selection order except that they were consecutively obtained. The study was carried out in a tertiary healthcare institution which is equipped with a standard microbiology laboratory. Patients seen at the various facilities in the hospital were used for the study. They numbered one thousand, six hundred and seventy (1,670) patients. This was during the period October 2008 to September 2009. The patient population was 1,500 (89.2%) infants while adults were 170 (10.8%). 1ml of venous blood was aseptically inoculated into two blood culture bottles, brain heart infusion broth and thioglycollate broth while giving great attention to sterile process. They were incubated overnight at 37 C and were examined daily for growth. Growth is usually characterized by gas bubbles or turbidity. If there was indication of growth either in the brain-heart infusion broth or the thioglycollate broth or both; gram staining and microscopy were prepared and read. The thioglychollate broth was sub cultured onto blood agar plate for anaerobic incubation, while the brain heart infusion broth was sub cultured onto chocolate, blood agar and McConkey agar for aerobic incubation. The anaerobic incubation was done by putting the culture plates into an anaerobic jar and filling it with hydrogen gas. This was incubated at 37 C overnight. The organisms isolated were identified to species level using the protocol of Cowan and Steel. The antibiotic susceptibility spectrum of the isolates was determined using the agar diffusion method of Bauer and Kirby. Eleven bacterial species were isolated in the study and they varied widely in their antibiotic susceptibilities. Ofloxacin exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus was 56.3% susceptible to oxacillin. The study isolated the common bacteria involved in bacteremia and determined their susceptibility profile, and also suggested some control measures.Keywords: Bacteremia; Pyrexia of unknown origin; antibiotic susceptibilities

Acute Intermittent Porphyria In A Young Nigerian Child: A Case Report

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder of heme biosynthesis which manifest with neurovisceral symptoms. Its manifestation in children before the age of puberty is said to be very rare and suggest homozygous state when it does occur before puberty. AIP mimics many other disorders and so may be easily missed leading to delay in appropriate management and poor prognosis. The authors report a case of AIP in a 5 year old boy from Nigeria.Key words: Acute, intermittent, porphyria, young, child, Nigeria